Letter: Ashley Vanorny will show up for District 5

Phillip Platz

It’s easy to get frustrated with city government. We all have ideas for little fixes — improvements that could give us that extra ounce of Cedar Rapids pride — yet it often feels like the folks making decisions are distracted by anything but implementing such low-hanging fruit.

As a Cedar Rapids transplant, I’ve made it my mission to help people fall as in-love with this city as I have. As part of that mission, I’ve been attending more public input meetings, volunteering for more community-building organizations and attending more neighborhood events.

You’d think our elected officials would be at this stuff, eager to hear what their constituents are excited about. They’re usually not there.

That’s why I felt encouraged to meet Ashley Vanorny, running for Cedar Rapids City Council District 5. She shows up to every volunteer event, every public input opportunity — she even shows up to more City Council meetings than some of our representatives.

Cedar Rapids residents receive poor representation when their council members don’t show up, when their council members shoot down projects that would improve the civic life and economic vitality of our neighborhoods, or when their council members award projects to the same developers that win every other bid by some unwritten, “members-only” rule.

Residents in District 5 can count on Vanorny to show up for them, with a fresh set of eyes and a new, clear voice, representing a slice of this city’s population that is severely underserved. Vote Vanorny. She’ll show up.

Phillip Platz

Cedar Rapids

Phillip Platz

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